The M. iliofibularis (Fan Fillet) was removed from the left and right
leg of the carcass, and after removal of the external fat and epimysial
connective tissue, the samples were vacuum packaged and transported
(ca. 5 h) under chilled (±0 °C) and hygienic conditions to
the Department of Animal Sciences (University of Stellenbosch). Immediately
upon arrival, the muscles were split into two groups, left
and right. The left M. iliofibularis was allocated to the freezing treatment
and the right to the fresh treatment. It was assumed that the
left and the right side's muscles were homogenous. The samples allocated
to the freezing treatment were immediately frozen and the
samples allocated to the fresh treatment were prepared for analysis